rike52

critics!

We bloggers get very little feedback, except for the occasional comment. But I hope y’all are likin’ what I’m writin’, mostly.

The plot of the classic movie “Groundhog Day” is that Billy Murray’s character weatherman Phil Connors experiences Groundhog Day in Punxsutawny over and over again, getting things a little better each time. The music site Best Classic Bands (1) today circulated a story on the 2020 Super Bowl commercial Murray made for Jeep. I gave you aContinue reading “all over again”

marmota monax cometh

Where did January go? On this first day of the second month, we sit on the eve of one of our most underappreciated holidays: Groundhog Day. No one takes it seriously. Banks remain open, no one gets a day off, and the postman still comes. But this day – a “cross-quarter” day smack between the winter solstice andContinue reading “marmota monax cometh”

thank U, MSU!

The maize-and-blue faithful here in Tree Town and around the world are emerging from this January in an unfamiliar position. Instead of losing their bowl game at the start of the month, tucking tail, and saying “wait till next year”, they find their team is a National Champion, first time in 27 years, the twelfth timeContinue reading “thank U, MSU!”

Musings I.

My first book of compiled blogs from the pandemic years – there would eventually be 5, all titled Musing through a pandemic – contained my writings on coronavirus, whom I’d personalized as “Mr. Corona” (1). Looking back, it’s not a bad historical record. I got to wear my microbiologist/virologist’s hat as well as my doctor’s white coat. Plus,Continue reading “Musings I.”

home improvement

I’ve learned in retirement that home improvement doesn’t always have to involve plaster dust, power tools rented from the hardware store, and a pallet of materials on your driveway. While such might be needed to elicit a grunt of approval from Tim Allen (1), your home is awaiting gentler ways to make it better. For sure, there’sContinue reading “home improvement”

quaternary

Hello to my dozens of readers and anyone else looking in. The term quaternary refers to the fourth order in a series. As a lifelong striving academic, I’m well aware of the quaternary milestones of graduation from high school, college, and medical school. The rhythm gets fuzzy after that: residencies – at least for internal medicine –Continue reading “quaternary”

hooked!

They entered our house to help us hang stuff. 120 pictures, posters, and objects later (and that’s just the main floor), I think it’s been a job well done. But, like a restless army after a war, some have hung around to see how else they might be of help. A lot, as it turns out. Turning vertical spaceContinue reading “hooked!”

makin’ t-shirts

Ya never know what hobbies might rise to bite ya in retirement. All that brain power that used to go to the job now is free to take on God-knows-what. I never thought I’d pick up an iron again. Heck, all my white shirts were perm press, so I didn’t even need it for that. But add in anContinue reading “makin’ t-shirts”

natty!

Sing a rousing chorus!(1) You don’t have to play to feel that way! (2) The online home for the best Michigan sports coverage – Mgoblog.com – posts two Muppet videos after any very key Michigan victory: the troupe doing two songs that have been staples of the Michigan Marching Band repertoire since before the first post-war NationalContinue reading “natty!”